"Incredible Hulk" smashes box office

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A bigger, better "Incredible Hulk"
crushed the North American weekend box office with a $54.5
million take, according to studio estimates.

The action-oriented film revival starring the hulking green
superhero is the second self-financed production from Marvel
Studios, which paid General Electric Co's Universal Pictures a
fee to market and distribute the film.

Marvel and Universal brought the first "Hulk" to theaters
in 2003, but that more introspective film failed to follow
through on its muscular debut after disappointing comic book
fans.

The new film stars Edward Norton as former scientist Bruce
Banner, who morphs into the green beast when his attempts at
anger management fail. Banner's love interest is played by Liv
Tyler, while actors William Hurt and Tim Roth take turns as
villains.

Marvel Studios had creative control over "The Incredible
Hulk," and the film won positive reviews, but critics did
question why Marvel was returning to the green monster so soon.

"It seems like 'Hulk' has smashed those questions to
pieces," said David Maisel, chairman of Marvel Entertainment
division Marvel Studios.

Maisel added that the film was the second-strongest
Father's Day weekend open.

"Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer," also starring
Marvel superheroes, rode the wave to No. 1 on Father's Day
weekend 2007 with box office of $58.1 million, according to
tracking firm Media By Numbers.
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